In commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), U.S. Representatives Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and Robert Andrews (D-NJ) inserted remarks into the Congressional Record underscoring the importance of the TRA to the longstanding strategic partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan.

In their “Extensions of Remarks”, the representatives reinforced the notion that both the 1979 TRA and the 1982 Six Assurances to Taiwan form “the cornerstone of our relationship with the people of Taiwan.”

Rep. Andrews added: “The PRC persists in claiming Taiwan as a ‘renegade province,’ refusing to renounce the use of force to prevent formal de jure independence. … The TRA affirmed that the United States’ decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China was based on the expectation that the future of Taiwan would be determined by peaceful means.”

Additionally, Rep. Berkley called attention to the 10th anniversary of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus (CTC). The caucus was founded on April 9, 2001 to act as “a forum to educate members of Congress on issues affecting U.S.-Taiwan Relations, and to provide a platform for exploring ways to positively enhance and strengthen U.S. relations and cooperation with the government and people of Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act.”

Berkley serves as co-chair of the CTC, which is currently the second largest Congressional country caucus in the House of Representatives.

FAPA President Mark Kao, PhD welcomes the congressional comments, saying: “The TRA and the Six Assurances together enabled Taiwan to develop into a vibrant democracy and making Taiwan a trusted ally for the U.S. in East Asia.”

Dr. Kao continues: “Nevertheless, compared to the vision set out by the original drafters of the TRA, there is significant room for improvement in the way that the law has been implemented by recent U.S. administrations, particularly in light of both Taiwan’s remarkable democratic transition, and the greatly increased military threat that it now faces from China.”

Dr. Kao concludes: “Taiwanese Americans are therefore eagerly anticipating the adoption by Congress of the Taiwan Policy Act in order to strengthen the provisions of the TRA.”

The Taiwan Policy Act, H.R. 2918, was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee last November, and is expected to go for a floor vote in the House in the coming weeks.

EXTENSION OF REMARKS COMMEMORATING THE 33rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT

Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act.

Since the end of World War II, the United States and Taiwan have fostered a close relationship that has been of enormous strategic and economic benefit to both countries. When the United States shifted diplomatic relations from Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China in January 1979, Congress moved quickly to pass the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) to ensure that the United States would continue its robust engagement with Taiwan in the areas of commerce, culture, and security cooperation. With President Carter’s signature on April 10, 1979, this important and lasting piece of legislation became the Law of the Land and served as the statutory basis for U.S.-Taiwan relations going forward.

After 33 years, the TRA still stands as a model of congressional leadership in the history of our foreign relation, and, together with the 1982 “”Six Assurances,”” it remains the cornerstone of a very mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and Taiwan. Through three decades marked by momentous social, economic, and political transformations, Taiwan has remained a trusted ally of the United States that now shares with us the ideals of freedom, democracy and self-determination.

The foresight of the TRA’s drafters in providing that “the United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services…to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability,”” and affirming “”the preservation and enhancement of the human rights of all the people on Taiwan”” as explicit objectives of the United States, has contributed in large measure to make Taiwan what it is today—a vibrant, open society governed by democratic institutions.

Though the people of Taiwan now enjoy fundamental human rights and civil liberties, they continue to live day after day under the ominous shadow cast by over 1400 short and medium-range ballistic missiles that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has aimed at them. The PRC persists in claiming Taiwan as a ‘renegade province,’ refusing to renounce the use of force to prevent formal de jure independence, even codifying its right to military action via passage of the so-called “”Anti-Secession Law”” on March 14, 2005. The United States Congress strongly condemned the “”Anti-Secession Law”” in House Concurrent Resolution 98, passed on March 16, 2005.

The TRA affirmed that the United States’ decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China was based on the expectation that the future of Taiwan would be determined by peaceful means. Furthermore, it stipulates that it is the policy of the United States “”to consider any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means…a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States.”” The unambiguous and principled stance contained in these provisions has been instrumental to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for more than thirty years, in spite of the growing military threat posed by the PRC.

I therefore invite my colleagues to join me in commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the TRA, to further underline our unwavering commitment to the TRA and our support for the strong and deepening relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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EXTENSION OF REMARKS COMMEMORATING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL TAIWAN CAUCUS

Founded on April 9, 2001, the caucus was intended to serve as a forum to educate members of Congress on issues affecting U.S.-Taiwan Relations, and to provide a platform for exploring ways to positively enhance and strengthen U.S. relations and cooperation with the government and people of Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act. It has grown from 85 members at the time of its establishment to the current roster of 155, making it the second largest country caucus in the House of Representatives.

In the past 10 years, its membership has remained solidly bipartisan, reflecting the broad and stable consensus in the U.S. Congress regarding the importance of Taiwan. Through the issuance of various joint letters, its agenda has focused first and foremost on maintaining faithful adherence to legal obligations and policy principles of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, as well as the 1982 “”Six Assurances”” to Taiwan. Together, these two documents form the cornerstone of our relationship with the people of Taiwan and have contributed immeasurably to the maintenance of peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region, while allowing Taiwan to blossom into a vibrant, open society, eager to engage with the rest of the world.

Today, Taiwan is well on the path to becoming a mature and fully consolidated democracy, and our shared values now form an ever stronger foundation of trust for cooperation across our many areas of mutual interest. At the same time, the military threat posed by the People’s Republic of China to Taiwan’s democratic way of life only continues to grow with each passing day.

In the coming 10 years, we hope to forge a stronger consultative role for Congress in the formulation of Taiwan policy. We look forward to working closely with our allies – both abroad and at home – to find solutions for ensuring Taiwan’s long-term security, and to deepen our dialogue with the people of Taiwan.